"I'm fine," says a limping Salen, "And so is Kohana. He took a pincer strike but shrugged off the poison, could have been much worse...as I'm sure we all know. I'll be fine, but neither of us is going anywhere in a hurry."

He points to the side of the trail, opposite the dead scorpion men, "If we set up the other side of those boulders, we will be hidden from anything that comes the same way we did and with a bit of luck there should be enough rock to block any detect charms they have." He dismounts and ties Stinky to Kor, so that he can find a route through the maze of boulders, occasionally having to back track to find a route through, but thankfully because Hoskar is taking it slowly with Kor, they don't have to get the mounts to back up. "If they do find us, we'll have to stand our ground as there's no quick way out of here" He doesn't look too happy, "I still think this is better than stumbling slowly and loudly around in the dark."
He gets a bit of jerky out, "Taya, your on guard duty," he throws her the jerky and holds his hand up to forestall her reply, "Don't bitch about it, if we're found, chances are we wont see the dawn."
She jumps up and catches the snack, "As if I would." she giggles and scampers off among the boulders and appears a few moments later on top of a high boulder, looks around and then up, "Those bison were taken from the sky at night, better find some cover. She finds a bit of scrub for cover with a fairly good view of the area, the only place she cant see is where the others are setting up camp.
Between them, they manage to settle Kor and Stinky down in between the boulders. Stinky has to be hobbled to get him to stay still. Melock and Hoskar then spend some time colleting bits of scrub and sand in an attempt to hide and break up the outline of the mounts. They then hide themselves and wait.

<quote GM>

Kobal and Henal ride off, receiving as they do a message via Tulox saying that Tarnessh is alive, but with Scorpion men. The Hawk estimates that he's some 500 metres to the South East of where they are.

It's pitch black and the Braves will need some sort of illumination or must rely on their Manul cats to guide them. The former would mean that they can travel quicker but will likely be spotted, whilst the latter means they must travel slower but in a clandestine fashion.[/quote]

The two Thunderbird braves are soon joined by the freshly healed Salen and Delenda, with Mordy running ahead, nose close to the ground as he follows Tarnessh's trail.

The Sable brave nods at Kobal, a fresh scar running across her blood covered face, all that remains of the blow that had broken her nose during the last fight. It suited her.

"Do not worry I shall not try and escape. This is too much fun." Her eyes gleam and she winks mischievously at Kobal.

With a low growl Mordy starts too move quickly in a South westerly direction, telling the Rangers to put out their torches after about two hundred metres.

"There's a rise up ahead, split by a shallow gorge. They went in that. Big enough to ride through, though you can go over the top or around if you want. They ain't far beyond it. Tulox here says his master's awake and about a hundred metres away."

That puts Tarnessh somewhere just over the steep rise, which though climbable by foot is too steep for mounts. If they plan on riding the Rangers will need to go straight through the gorge, or some fifty metres either to the left or right where the ground flattens again.

In reply to Melock (msg # 930):

Focussed principally on the welfare of his slow and groggy mount, who on one occasion drools a thin stream of blood despite there being no remaining visible wounds, causing a delay as the blood needs burying to avoid attracting predators, Hoskar is simply grateful for someone taking the lead. When they're between the boulders, Kor gratefully subsides to the ground; to all intents looking like another grey boulder as Hoskar sprinkles some covering dust to add to the illusion.

Thank you. And thank you to Taya too: wonder how much food I'll owe her if she's saved the lives of both my rhinos instead of just the one.

I'm near-blind out here: I can listen, but if you spot movement let me know - I can still improve your sight or try magic to detect foes if needed.

Hoskar and Melock are secure and hopefully hidden from prying eyes and the night is silent apart from the usual small scuffling sounds and insects.

Not that far away, in calling distance in fact, Akala and Amara are deciding what to do. They too can detect nothing amiss.

The Scorpion men have retreated, leaving a score of their dead scattered about the campground. There's dead Blue llama braves too, killed by poison or from the heavy clubs used so effectively by the chaos beasts.

Wives, mothers and children begin to lament their losses, their wails joined by the strong voices of the Agimori, who keeping time with a lone Sable skin drum, mourn their own dead.

"The gorge would be ideal, if not for the fact it looks an ideal ambush spot. We would get there quicker though. What do you think?"

Salen looks to Kobal, Henal and Delenda for their thoughts.

I can always use a spell to detect life in the gorge to warn us of an ambush. Henal replies. Though we will need much of our magic to beat the creatures as it would be best to avoid getting close to them to avoid their poison.

Kobal is too surprised, except to blink as he looks at Delenda.  That was unexpected.  This isn't how she normally acts.  Did she know I was suspicious of her?  Is this some trick to lower my guard, so that she can escape?  But he has no time to unravel the mystery.  Nor the time to worry about her escaping.

"Delenda, this is no midnight raid to steal another clan's beasts.  If Henal's judgment is right (it was dark), we are outnumbered by 4 or 5 to 1.  By Chaos scum.  Scorpion men.  If it was not my brother Tarnessh who was taken, I'd be re-thinking this.  I'm glad for your help (we're already outnumbered) but I don't know if we'll all go back safely."





"We're outnumbered.  I think we either sneak in and sneak out with Tarnessh," where are Ravens when you need them?  "or we get as close as we dare, then charge in, pick him up, and charge right out again.  We can't hope to defeat 20 scorpion men.

"Either way, we need to know exactly where Tarnessh is, what condition he's in, and how many scorpion men there are, and where they stand in relation to him.  If he's ready for us, a light spell cast at the right time might help with the rescue, or getting away.  Mordy?  Tulox?"

Yes a quick raid to free Tarnessh and ride away again this time. Waha does not expect us to sacrifice ourselves to slay chaos, but any we kill will be a boon. I will use my magic to detect life to see if the gorge is clear of ambushers as that is the fastest way.

Henal rides toward the gorge and at 30 metres tries his spell advancing cautiously after ready to turn and ride away if an ambush appears.

"I believe we've no choice but to head for camp first," Akala grumbled, reluctantly, "From there we can join the others.  I don't think riding blindly is a good idea.  We will have to go slowly as well, so as not to injure the mounts."

The Big Brave made to do so, trying to move as fast as safely possible.

Henal's spell lights up two large life forms, likely scorpion men, one human sized and scores of small life forms ranging from hand sized up to a small dog.

All are on the very edge of his spells range, dead ahead down the gorge, which by the looks of it is only about a javelin throw long. So they'd be out in the open on the other side of the small rocky rise.

"I get it Bison boy. Thought you lot were all about charging in, forget the odds and lets headbutt them all to death?"

Her teeth gleam in the darkness.

Mordy scouts ahead as Tulox relays a message back to Tarnessh.

"There's no one hiding...Just what Henal has detected. They are behind some Cactus."

Through Rikki communicating with Tulox Henal asks Tarnessh:

Can you see anything? Are you tied up or free? Could you create a light wall when we come through the gorge to free you so we can fight the scorpion men in light?

While he waits on the reply he muses

The best plan looks to go through the gorge fast and try and get Tarnessh. Looks like he might be close to this end of it and once we get him head off back to the camp or towards the others.

"Agreed. Let's charge in, hit 'em fast, grab Tarnessh and get the heck out the other side.

Just like Delenda said."

Salen looks over his shoulder and grins at Delenda, while nodding to Henal and Kobal.

"I'm tied up by my hands and feet, in the open. I can see two scorpion-men from where I am right now, but there might be more. There are definitely a lot of little tiny ones, I think they are scorpion-spawn. They are gross and I hate them.

The second you guys show up, I'll be able to create a light wall. These chaos filth are dumber then the Cannibals, since they never thought to get rid of my foci. I might even be able to try making the light-wall opaque from my side so you can see through it but they can't see you charging. Signal me right when you charge."

Amara murmured an agreement with Akala. She was impatient to get Tarnessh back from the scorpionmen, but they posed a greater threat to the main camp. "Let us take the slower, but more sure course of travelling back to the main camp."

His grin is hidden in the darkness, but evident in the tone of his voice, "You and me both, I doubt she'll let either of us forget it. She's up high keeping a look out for us, her eyes are better than mine in the dark"

That's about what I thought, Melock: at least she'll not end up short of food with me on the case too...even for her appetite Hoskar whispers back before giving a sigh of relief and fussing over Kor's comfort; shield in hand and sword loosened in its sheath just-in-case.

Amara and Akala begin their journey, tense and on the watch for another ambush. Far ahead they see the glows of the distant campfires hidden amongst the rolling hills and boulders. Above them the first stars appear as Freeze day becomes Waterday...

All goes quiet for sometime, the only sounds being Kor grunting in discomfort. Then even he goes still, his ears twitching as if he's listening to something beyond human hearing.

The whole day had been overcast and colder than usual, and now it suddenly got colder still, as somewhere close by a portal to the spirit world was opened. Hoskar's hair stood on end and the night got darker...And darker...

The four braves lined up ready for the charge, skin hardens, lances sharpen and finally mounts are magically speeded on their silent way. The Bisons and sable push this way and that, as their eager riders jostle for position, and then it's time.

Now or never....

"Ha!" Kobal scoffs quietly, so as not to alert the enemy.  He cannot let the slight stand unchallenged.  "That is the Sable way, attacking without thinking, and getting captured."  He grins back at her.  "When a bison charges, none can stand in its way!

"And 'Boy'?!  Ha!  I am a bison brave, and a Wandering Ranger.  Watch, and see how a bison brave fights!"



"I agree," Kobal says, turning to his brother bison brave.  "Trying to sneak in, we'll never outrun them if they notice us."  Besides, astride his mount is the proper way of the Dedra.



Kobal looks at Salen in surprise.  Waha's bones, what is going on tonight?!  First Delenda is smiling and talking back.  Now Salen acts like Delenda is in charge!  Maybe he got knocked on the head during the fight.

"Remember," he says to the others, "we focus on getting Tarnessh back, then head back to the others."  He casts his enchantments and prepares to urge Black Hoof into a charge.